Hotel Development Opposed

SCUGOG ISLAND -- Efforts to bring a sprawling hotel complex to Scugog Island have been stalled after neighbours near the project served notice they want to appeal the development before the Ontario Municipal Board.

Behind-the-scenes work to bring the large-scale hotel and resort development to the southwestern corner of Scugog Island had been moving steadily over the past year, but developers hit a hurdle in June after receiving word that two people had filed notice of appeals against the project.

“It put a pin in our balloon,” said Peter Favot, who’s spearheading the Marsh Forest project. “This has kind of thrown a wrench into the works. We didn’t expect this.”

Marsh Forest Group first proposed the development in late 2005. The project, proposed for a 60-acre parcel of land at 138 Portview Rd., is expected to feature a mix of hotel rooms and time-share townhouse units as well as close to 20,000 square feet of common facilities -- space that is earmarked for a conference room, restaurant, retail space and a swimming pool.

We hope to address these appeals in short order. They have to be pretty substantial for the OMB to take on and they can be quite expensive as well. Scugog Mayor Chuck Mercier

Over the years, the proponents have patiently watched their application receive official plan amendment and rezoning approvals and have carried out tests to ensure there is sufficient groundwater for the project. It will be built in stages to ensure there is enough water for the development and that nearby homes are not impacted.

Mr. Favot expects the first phase to include 40 units in the hotel complex, plus 50 time-share townhouses.

But after watching ongoing residential construction across the road from her Portview Road home, Janet Hanley-Haines says she has no stomach for the type of work that would go into building such a hotel complex.

She is one of the two neighbours to file an appeal notice with the OMB.

“It’s so annoying with one place, let alone this monstrous thing,” she said of the proposed development.

Ms. Hanley-Haines also points to the already busy Island Road that leads to the Great Blue Heron Casino, suggesting that hotel guests would further clog up area roadways and make getting around even more difficult.

“It’s already hard enough to get off our road and onto Island Road,” said Ms. Hanley-Haines, who has lived on Portview Road for 40 years.

The development’s impact on area wildlife is also a concern, she added.

“This is just going to be terrible. I’m not going to be able to put up with the noise and other things it’ll bring,” said Ms. Hanley-Haines. “It really affects me.”

Scugog Mayor Chuck Mercier, who has publicly supported the project, said municipal staff will meet with the two appellants in the near future to see if their concerns can be assuaged and the appeals dropped.

“We don’t see it as anything out of the normal course of business,” said the mayor. “We’re not alarmed by it.”

Mayor Mercier suspects groundwater and traffic concerns will be key in the appeals.

“We hope to address these appeals in short order,” he said. “They have to be pretty substantial for the OMB to take on and they can be quite expensive as well.”

Mr. Favot said he’s waiting to hear from the OMB regarding whether the appeals are valid and, if necessary, when a hearing might be held. Until he receives word, Mr. Favot said he will continue to move along with work on the project’s site plan and continue to tweak the idea of creating a boardwalk that will run from the complex to Port Perry, via the Hwy. 7A causeway.

“This whole thing kind of baffled us,” said Mr. Favot. “It’s sort of a low feeling after working so hard to get everything approved and then you get someone with a NIMBYism approach to appeal it.”

It’s estimated the development will cost about $8 million to build and will bring about $42,500 each year in taxes to Scugog’s coffers.

The entire complex will be serviced by its own sewage treatment facilities.

Chris Hall is a reporter covering Scugog Township for Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. He can be reached at
CHall@durhamregion.com
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